The carriage moved along a rough path between rows of tall trees, its wooden frame creaking as the wheels struggled against the uneven road. Every few seconds, it lurched violently, bouncing up and down as it passed over dips and stones, making the passengers shift uncomfortably in their seats.
Inside, quiet murmurs filled the space.
It was a shared carriage, the kind used by travelers who wanted to save money. Strangers sat side by side, some talking in hushed voices, others simply enduring the bumpy ride in silence.
In one corner, Lucas sat quietly, his gaze fixed ahead, his eyes slightly narrowed and devoid of energy. His expression looked almost lifeless, as if he hadn't fully recovered from what had happened just a few hours ago.
[TASK – Immediately proceed to Sylvas Magic Academy.]
The message appeared again.
His eyebrow twitched "Tch… why does this keep showing up again and again?" he muttered under his breath, irritation clearly visible on his face. "It's starting to get really annoying."
He tried to ignore it, sitting on the bench of the roadside checking his bag.
But suddenly His body froze. "…What the?"
His muscles refused to respond.
"I can't move…"
A cold sensation crept up his spine as another message appeared before his eyes.
[Warning: Continued disregard of the assigned task will result in enforced penalties.]
A brief pause followed. Then another line appeared.
[Penalty: Termination.]
His eyes widened instantly. "What the hell?!"
The restriction vanished just as suddenly as it had come, allowing him to move again, but the message had already done its job.
That was enough to make him act.
With no other choice, he had quickly asked around for directions, questioning nearby people about the location of Sylvas Magic Academy. Luckily, he found out that a carriage heading in that direction would be passing soon.
And that was how he ended up here.
Now, sitting inside the moving carriage, Lucas leaned slightly toward the window, watching the trees rush past as the vehicle continued forward at a steady pace.
For a moment, everything felt almost normal.
Then—
[Staring blankly outside won't make you look any smarter.]
His eye twitched.
'…Just what is this thing's problem?'
Lucas clenched his jaw slightly, clearly irritated by the constant remarks.
After a moment of hesitation, he turned toward the man sitting beside him, deciding to confirm something.
"Hey… excuse me," he said, trying to sound casual. "Can you tell me what this thing is? I mean… how does something like this even exist?"
The man looked at him, confused.
"I'm sorry," he replied slowly, "but I don't understand what you're referring to."
Lucas frowned.
"What? I mean this—this thing," he said, gesturing vaguely in the air in front of him. "These words, this… announcement box. Can't you see it?"
The man's expression shifted into something closer to concern.
"…Kid," he said after a brief pause, "did you hit your head somewhere? You might want to get that checked."
Lucas blinked.
'What…?'
He slowly turned his gaze back toward the floating screen.
'So that means… only I can see this?'
Before he could think further—
[At least now you've realized. Took you long enough.]
His eyebrow twitched again.
[Never seen someone so dumb as you.]
'SHUT IT.'
Lucas clenched his fists slightly, resisting the urge to react outwardly.
The rest of the journey passed in relative silence, aside from the occasional bumps and the low chatter of other passengers.
After some time, the carriage began to slow down.
"This is your stop," the driver called out.
Lucas stood up, grabbing the small bag placed beside him. It contained the few belongings that had been given to him before he was Disowned by his family. Along with it, he still had a small amount of money, just enough to get by for now.
He stepped down from the carriage and handed over the fare to the driver. without another word, the carriage moved on, disappearing down the road it had come from.
Lucas turned around standing before him was the massive entrance of Sylvas Magic Academy. In front of the massive gates, still taking in the sight of the academy, a familiar screen suddenly appeared before his eyes.
[Congratulations on completing your first task]
[Reward – Mana Perception]
[Skill +1]
He stared at the words for a moment, his expression shifting slightly as curiosity replaced his earlier irritation.
"Mana Perception… as a skill?" he muttered, placing a hand on his chin. "What does it even do?"
Almost immediately, another line appeared.
[Skill – Mana Perception (Passive): Allows the user to sense and visualize mana in the surroundings, including the flow, density, and structure of magical energy.]
Lucas read it carefully, his eyes narrowing slightly as he processed the explanation.
"…Okay," he said after a brief pause. "That actually sounds useful."
With that thought in mind, he shifted his attention back toward the academy and began walking forward.
The closer he got, the more imposing the structure became. Towering cylindrical buildings rose high into the sky, their surfaces smooth and polished, giving off an almost unreal presence. At the top, faint clusters of glowing clouds hovered as if placed there intentionally, adding to the grandeur of the entire place. The architecture alone made it look less like a school and more like a royal palace meant for nobles and elites.
"Damn… this place looks expensive," he muttered under his breath.
As he approached the entrance area, he noticed a long line formed near one of the sections. A sign nearby indicated that it was for application registration. Young individuals, around his age, stood in line, each one waiting for their turn. Judging by their expressions, they were all here for the same reason.
The Entrance Exam.
Lucas silently joined the line, observing the people around him. Some looked confident, others nervous, while a few appeared completely indifferent. Regardless, they were all competitors now.
After a short wait, his turn finally came.
"Name?" the woman at the counter asked without looking up.
"Lucas Ironhart," he replied calmly.
At that, she paused for a brief moment before raising her gaze toward him.
"House identification?" she asked.
Lucas handed over the card he had received before being cast out. The woman examined it carefully, her expression neutral as she verified the details.
After a few seconds, she returned it to him with a polite smile.
"Thank you. Your name has been registered. You may proceed to Block 4 for the entrance test."